Bug Bungalows
Title: Bug Bungalows
Year: 2023
Artists: Lizzie Needham and Ellen Wilkins
Medium: wood, natural materials
Location: Blair Garden, May Park Garden, Grove Community Garden
Project Partner: Slow Food of the Tetons
Sponsored By: Jackson Hole Public Art
Bug Bungalows were made in partnership by local community members, the artists, and Slow Food at several garden events and the Jackson Hole Public Art MobileStudio. The goal of the project is to inspire others to get creative and make their own bug bungalows so we can foster a healthy network of pollinator habitats here in Jackson.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you construct your own bug bungalows:
Plant native plants so that insects have food and shelter during their entire life cycle (egg, larvae, pupa, adult)
Create bug bungalows using natural materials that mimic natural habitats. This is helpful for insects living in suburban areas. Start by researching the needs of a specific insect you like- and use what you learn to build a home!
Practice insect-friendly landscape maintenance strategies. Avoiding the use of chemicals, pesticides and herbicides benefits insects as well as humans. It is also a good idea to prune plants in the spring after eggs hatch rather than in the fall.
More resources for creating healthy habitat:
https://www.tetonconservation.org/native-plants
https://www.greatbearnativeplants.com/wholesale-availability
Lizzie Needham helps People’s Market visitors build their own backyard pollinator houses with native natural materials.
Ellen Wilkins works from the MobileStudio at a Wednesday evening People’s Market teaching local kids about pollinators and native natural materials.
Bug Bungalows, native pollinator-friendly plants garden, and stone terrace fully installed at May Community Garden.
Residents at The Grove apartment complex help to fill pre-constructed hexagon frames with natural materials to house local pollinators.
Backyard pollinator house made from entirely found materials - you can build your pollinator house inside of a well draining aluminum can, recycled plastic bottle, or whatever else you can find!
Lizzie Needham and Ellen Wilkins, Summer 2023 community artists standing next to a finished Bug Bungalow installation at Blair Community Garden.
Maria Sengle and Pearson Beasley cutting found materials to size for constructability.
Community members traveling on the multi-modal pathway stop to help fill hexagon frames with found materials at Blair Community Garden.